Non-slip, lateral gripping clamp

ABSTRACT

A high strength hinge, particularly for interconnecting a clamp jaw and a clamp frame, for example, comprises a double truncated cone shaped core between and contiguous with allochiral surfaces of the jaw and the frame for resisting both lateral slippage and longitudinal slippage of the jaw relative to the frame when both lateral and longitudinal forces are applied to an elongated element, as a pipe, held by the clamp jaws for the transmission of vibrations through the hinge, for example, without amplitude loss.

United States Patent 1191 Pogonowski 1 Apr. 30, 1974 [54] NON-SLIP, LATERAL GRIPPING CLAIVIP 872,397 l2/l907 Wulff 308/207 A {75] Inventor: Ivo C. Pogonowski, Houston, Tex. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [73] Assigneez Texaco Inc New York, 344,090 10/1919 Germany 308/174 Filed: 13, 1971 Primary Examiner-Harold D. Whitehead [211 Appl No 207,175 Assistant Examiner-Mark S. Bicks Attorney, Agent, or Firm-T. H. Whaley; C. G. Ries [52] US. Cl 269/285, 269/156, 269/258 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. B25b 1/04 58 Field 61 Search 269/139, 156, 258, 259, A l g pamgularly mterwimectmg 269/260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, a F f a 1'? j 268, 277 278 285; 308/2 R, 135, 174 prises a ou e runca e pone s ape core e ween and contiguous wlth allochiral surfaces of the aw and 56] References Cned theframe for resisting hoth lateral slippage and longitudmal slippage of the Jaw relative to the frame when UNITED STATES PATENTS both lateral and longitudinal forces are applied to an 998,248 7/l9ll .lzihnm 269/285 X elongated element, as a pipe, held by the clamp jaws I? gmllhmgton for the transmission of vibrations through the hinge,

ea 1 .1 2,024,112 12/1935 Phillis 269/258 X for example ampmude loss 3,322,456 5/1967 Strakhal 269/266 X 3 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures 4 1 I I 11 L, /27 i v ,0 I In I 5111, ,1 1 1 t 23 l {it 1 1 a 19 1 6 4 '1 l /5 A! /3 q A 1 I 7 l 2/ 5 1 1 %20 I l 25 I I I I A? I I 1 15 1 I 25 1 l c f Q 0 \I v 1 I a H 14 {O 1 i 1 I l .1, 'l' .1111.

PATENTEBAPR 30 I974 SHEET h 0F 4 NON-SLIP, LATERAL GRIPPING CLAMP OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The principal object of this invention is to provide a non-slip lateral gripping clamp that resists both lateral and longitudinal forces applied to an elongated element held thereby.

Another principal object of this invention is to provide a clamp for holding an elongated object as a pipe, for example, wherein no interruption of flow of fluid through the pipe is maintained while the pipe is being held, shook, vibrated, and lowered or raised, possibly by repeated lateral grips. I

Still another object of this invention is to provide a hinge core in which each of the various portions of the bearing surfaces is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the core for resisting longitudinal and lateral slippage and resisting loss of vibration amplitude in a vibro penetrator-extractor (vibrating well pipe penetrator and extractor) utilizing this nonslip lateral gripping clamp.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a non-slip, lateral gripping clamp that is easy to operate, is of simple configuration, and is economical to form and assemble.

Further objects and various advantages of the dis closed non-slip lateral gripping clamp will be apparent in the following detailed description, together with the accompanying drawings, submitted for purposes of illustration only and not intended to define the scope of the invention, reference being made for that purpose to the subjoined claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings diagrammatically illustrate by way of example, not by way of limitation, at least one form of the invention wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the several views in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a typical lateral gripping clamp;

FIG. 2 is a schematic enlarged front view of a hinge mechanism for attaching a clamp jaw to a clamp frame;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken at 3-3 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a modification of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is another modification of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of the core of FIGS. 8, 9, and 11;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a modification of the core of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a modification of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a modification of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 11 is a modification of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION The invention disclosed herein, the scope of which being defined in the appended claims, is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts shown and described, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various other ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

FIG. 1 illustrates a U-shaped clamp 10 combined with other elements to form a vibrator 11, for example, for shaking or vibrating an elongated element, as a pipe 12, in a vertical direction. The vibrator is conventional and comprises a pair of eccentric fly wheels mounted on two pairs of shafts on centerlines 13, 14, 15, and 16, each pair being on each side of the vibrator. Each of the adjacent fly wheels (not shown) rotates synchronously in opposite directions with the other fly wheel. This causes the vibrator 11 to rise up and down rapidly. The clamp 10 for holding the pipe therein comprises three jaws 17, 18, and 19 in this example, two jaws l8 and 19 being pivotally connected to the inside of two fixed arms 20 and 21 of the U-shaped clamp while the third jaw 17 is pivotally connected to an arm 22 which in turn is pivoted to one of the fixed arms 20 of the U- shaped clamp with pivot 23. This pivotal arm 22 extends past the other arm of the U-shaped clamp and around one end of the vibrator. A projection 24 on arm 22 extends at right angles therefrom and has a pin connection 25 to a hydraulic motor 26.

In operation, the arm 22 is swung open, the pipe 12 is then positioned against the first two jaws 18, 19 of the clamp 10 and the arm 22 swung into closed position with the third jaw 17 resting against the pipe. The arm 22 passes between the arms of a yoke 27 and is hooked with pin 25 to the hydraulic motor 26 for being pulled tight. As shown inFIG. 1 the arm 21 is now' ready for final tightening. As the arm 22 is tightened with the hydraulic motor, and as a square hole 28 in the arm projection 24 becomes aligned with two square holes 29 in the yoke 27, a pin (not shown) is dropped in and retains the clamp in tightly, fixedly clamped position and the pressure may then be released from the hydraulic motor.

FIG. 2 is a blown-up view of one of the jaws 18. This jaw has a wear plate 30 on the front side thereof and on the back side is an attaching element 31. In this embodiment the abutting face of the attaching element 31 is fixedly secured, as by welding to the abutting face of a cone shaped core 33. This cone shaped core 33 is actually a double truncated cone wherein it comprises two truncated cones 33a, 33b, with the bases of each attached integrally with each other. The convex surface of the cone 33 fits perfectly in or in juxtaposition with the concave surface of a hinge frame 34, FIGS. 2 and 3. This hinge frame 34, FIG. 2, has two tabs 35a, 35b to which is pinned the cone with an elongated pin 36. The contacting surface of the attaching element of the jaw is conical shaped and contiguous with the conical shaped surfaces of the double truncated cone shaped core. Likewise, the hinge frame surfaces contiguous with the truncated cone shaped core are also contiguous with the other side or side opposite of the core from the jaws. Accordingly, the contiguous contacting surfaces of the jaw attaching element are the allochiral analogue of the contiguous attaching surfaces of the hinge frame contiguous surfaces. Stress concentration relieving grooves may be formed in the middle of both of the jaw attaching elements and the hinge frame circumscribing the break in the peripheral surface of the double truncated cone.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to a sectional view at 3-3 on FIG. 2, but is shown with a loose fit between the cone 33 and hinge frame 34, and this FIG. 3 illustrates the play that the cone has when mounted on the pin so that when clamping forces are applied to the jaws, the play would be taken up and all forces pass through the double truncated cone shaped core between the hinge frame and the clamping jaw attaching element 31.

FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 2 and illustrates the jaw wear surface 30 inlaid in the jaw member 18.

FIG. 5, a modification of FIG. 2, illustrates the jaw attaching element 31a having tabs 37a, 37b, for being pinned loosely to the core 33 and the hinge frame 34a being secured with weld 32a to the cone in opposite relationship to the embodiment of FIG. 2, for use when dictated by the particular design.

FIG. 6 is another modification of FIG. 2, wherein here the jaw attaching element 31a is pinned to the hinge frame 34b with the same pin 36 that retains the core 33. The jaw attaching element has two wings or tabs 37a, 37b, for being loosely attached with the pin 36 to hinge frame ears 35c, 35d whereby the surfaces between the attaching element 31a and the hinge frame 34b are shaped to be contiguous with the conical surfaces of the double truncated cone shaped core 33. Here likewise the contiguous surfaces of the jaw attaching element 310 are the allochiral analogue of the contiguous surfaces of the hinge frame 34b whereby when the jaws are closed in clamping action, all contiguous surfaces are pressed into contact with the cone during all applications of lateral and/or longitudinal forces applied to the clamp and the vibrator 11 through hinge frame 3411.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a typical double truncated cone shaped core 33 of the invention, with an opening 38 for the pin (not shown), this being a top view of the core of any of FIGS. 8, 9, or 11.

FIG. 8 is a schematic front view of a modified truncated cone shaped core 39 in which the outer bearing surface of each of two truncated cones 39a, 39b is a concave curve and which curve is parabolic or hyperbolic, depending on the particular requirements of the hinge.

FIG. 9 is a schematic front view of another modified truncated cone shaped core 40 in which the outer bearing surface is a convex curve or a solid of revolution bearing surface having a radius greater than its thickness transversely to its longitudinal axis. This solid of revolution 40, FIG. 9, is formed by an arcuate line rotated around the longitudinal axis of the core for forming a 3-dimensional curved surfaced solid of revolution.

FIG. is a schematic front view of another modified truncated cone shaped core 41 comprising six trun-' cated solids of revolution including truncated cones 41a, 41c, 41d, and 41f and truncated solids of revolution 4lb and 41e, depending on the particular requirements of the clamp hinge.

FIG. 11 is a schematic, enlarged front view of another modified truncated cone shaped core 42 comprising similar truncated cones 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d stacked on one another.

Both embodiments of FIGS. 10 and 11 comprise cones each of which comprises a plurality or rather at least more than three truncated cones positioned on top of one another.

A principal feature of all of those hinge cores is that all of the various portions of the surface of the figures or solids of revolution or of any surface generated by 6 Thus in operation of the clamp, the jaws are locked around the sides of the elongated element, as a pipe to be held in vertical position, so that no interruption of flow of fluid is made in the pipe as it is being gripped. The pipe then may be gripped and shook, vibrated, raised, or lowered as required and still all longitudinal and lateral forces in the pipe are resisted by the clamp.

No blocking of the access to the top of the pipe ever results when being held by this new clamp. v

The pipe may be lowered or raised by the lateral or side grip with no interruption to the internal portions of the pipe.

For oil well use, the clamp may be used efficiently wherein a pipe may be driven or lowered and/or retrieved as a shothole stem from the bottom of which an explosive charge is deposited. The pipe stem may thus be used repeatedly as it is easily removed before the explosion occurs. Also the pipe may be freed as in the case of a stuck pipe of a drill string.

In the construction industry the disclosed clamp is very useful for pile driving where a limited height is available, and for use in either a vibro penetrator or a vibro extractor (machines for penetrating or extracting by vibrating a pipe as with an eccentric weighted shaft or fly wheel).

Accordingly, it wll be seen that the present non-slip lateral gripping clamp operates in a manner which meets each of the objects set forth hereinbefore.

While only a few embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it will be evident that various other modifications are possible in the arrangement and construction of the disclosed non-slip, lateral gripping clamp without departing from the scope of the invention and it is accordingly desired to comprehend within the purview of this invention such modifications as may be considered to fall within thescope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A non-slip lateral gripping clamp having a plurality of jaws for clamping an elongated element having a longitudinal axis, at least one of the jaws being movably connected to a clamp frame, the clamp comprising,

a. core means having bearing surfaces formed at an angle to said longitudinal axis,

b. said bearing surface of said core means is paraboloidal,

c. said one jaw has surface means for matching the shape of one side of said core bearing surfaces, and

d. said clamp frame has surface means for matching the shape of the other side of said core bearing surfaces whereby lateral and longitudinal forces in said elongated element are resisted as said core is placed under compression when lateral gripping force is applied by said clamp jaws.

2. A non-slip lateral gripping clamp having a plurality of jaws for clamping an elongated element having a longitudinal axis, at least one of the jaws being movably connected to a clamp frame, the clamp comprising,

a. core means having bearing surfaces formed at an angle to said longitudinal axis,

b. said bearing surface of said core means is hyperbo- Ioidal,

c. said one jaw has surface means for matching the shape of one side of said core bearing surfaces whereby lateral and longitudinal forces in said 6 comprising an arcuate line rotated around said longitudinal axis of said core means, d. said one jaw has surface means for matching the shape of one side of said core bearing surfaces, and

c. said clamp frame has surface means for matching the shape of the other side of said core bearing surfaces whereby lateral and longitudinal forces in I said elongated element are resisted as said core is placed under compression when lateral gripping force is applied by said clamp jaws. 

1. A non-slip lateral gripping clamp having a plurality of jaws for clamping an elongated element having a longitudinal axis, at least one of the jaws being movably connected to a clamp frame, the clamp comprising, a. core means having bearing surfaces formed at an angle to said longitudinal axis, b. said bearing surface of said core means is paraboloidal, c. said one jaw has surface means for matching the shape of one side of said core bearing surfaces, and d. said clamp frame has surface means for matching the shape of the other side of said core bearing surfaces whereby lateral and longitudinal forces in said elongated element are resisted as said core is placed under compression when lateral gripping force is applied by said clamp jaws.
 2. A non-slip lateral gripping clamp having a plurality of jaws for clamping an elongated element having a longitudinal axis, at least one of the jaws being movably connected to a clamp frame, the clamp comprising, a. core means having bearing surfaces formed at an angle to said longitudinal axis, b. said bearing surface of said core means is hyperboloidal, c. said one jaw has surface means for matching the shape of one side of said core bearing surfaces whereby lateral and longitudinal forces in said elongated element are resisted as said core is placed under compression when lateral gripping force is applied by said clamp jaws.
 3. A non-slip lateral gripping clamp having a plurality of jaws for clamping an elongated element having a longitudinal axis, at least one of the jaws being movably connected to a clamp frame, the clamp comprising, a. core means having bearing surfaces formed at an angle to said longitudinal axis, b. said core means having a longitudinal axis, c. said core means bearing surface includes a 3-dimensional curved surfaced solid of revolution comprising an arcuate line rotated around said longitudinal axis of said core means, d. said one jaw has surface means for matching the shape of one side of said core bearing surfaces, and e. said clamp frame has surface means for matching the shape of the other side of said core bearing surfaces whereby lateral and longitudinal forces in said elongated element are resisted as said core is placed under compression when lateral gripping force is applied by said clamp jaws. 